Fall into a festival

From crawfish to cracklins, food a big part of celebrations

Soon cooler fall weather will once again reinvigorate our state’s outdoor festival scene. Not that people need much prompting to celebrate. Food will do. Most anything can be on the table - crawfish, shrimp, barbecue, chicken, frog legs, cracklins - Louisianians savor the aroma and the eating. So, take in the musical beats. Absorb the atmosphere. Appreciate the vibrancy of a myriad of fall season celebrations. And enjoy.

Fall festival dates include:

THROUGH MONDAY, SEPT. 5

LOUISIANA SHRIMP & PETROLEUM FESTIVAL: downtown Morgan City. The festival celebrates its 76th year with music, food, carnival rides, fireworks, a Cajun Culinary Classic, arts and crafts show and sale. Also included will be a 10 a.m. Sunday Mass in the park, and the Blessing of the Fleet. (985) 385-0703.

NEW ORLEANS SEAFOOD FESTIVAL: Lafayette Square, New Orleans. Fifth annual event celebrating the city’s culture, cuisine and music. Food will be featured from New Orleans restaurants, along with art displays, jewelry, and crafts from local artisans. Festival proceeds benefit the Louisiana Hospitality Foundation.

DELTA MUSIC FESTIVAL: 10 a.m.-5 p.m., downtown Ferriday. All day music performances, food, arts, crafts, vendors, induction ceremony for the Delta Music Museum Hall of Fame. Inductees will be James Burton, famous Elvis guitarist; and The Hemphills, a well-known gospel group. $3. (318) 757-9999.

SEPT. 11

4th ANNUAL PAPA GEORGE FAIR-CHILD JAMBALAYA COOK-OFF: grounds of St. Gabriel Catholic Church, St. Gabriel. Jambalaya dinners will go on sale at 11 a.m. for $5. Winners of cook-off will be announced at 1 p.m. Festivities include food, homemade sweets and a raffle featuring a homemade LSU quilt and a St. Jude Children’s quilt. Also, a mini-pot jambalaya cook-off for kids at 10:30 a.m. Benefit for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. (225) 939-6369

SEPT. 15-NOV. 17

FALL 2011 BAYOU FILM SERIES: Bayou Bijou Theater, 600 McKinley St., University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Show times are 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Mondays on the following dates: Sept. 12, 19 and 26; Oct. 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31; Nov. 7 and 24. The program is dedicated to bringing provocative, adventurous and exciting films from throughout the world to the Lafayette community. This year’s films include Moscow, Belgium; The Secret in Their Eyes, A Somewhat Gentle Man, Meek’s Cutoff, Poetry, Another Year, Biutiful, Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale, Spider Baby, or The Maddest Story Ever Told; Farewell and Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives. $20, whole season; $3, at the door for general public; $2, students and faculty of ULL. http://www.theind.com

SEPT. 16-17

9TH ANNUAL NATCHITOCHES MEAT PIE FESTIVAL: Riverbank Stage, downtown Natchitoches. The town’s famous meat pies, of course, along with live entertainment and children’s activities. The annual River Run along the downtown riverbank is also being held in conjunction with the festival. (800) 259-1714 or http://www.meatpiefestival.com.

JIM BOWIE FESTIVAL: Vidalia. This event commemorates the 1827 duel between Dr. Thomas Maddox and Samuel Levi Well III. The duel gave birth to the legend of Jim Bowie. In addition to a re-enactment of the infamous “Sandbar Duel” by members of Natchez Little Theatre, there will be a barbecue competition, homemade pie bake-off, pageant, artists and the Vidalia Women’s Club street dance. Live music line-up include Wayne Toups & ZydeCajun, Kevin Curtis Live, The Texaco Country Showdown, local gospel groups and more. $10, adults; $3, children 12 and under. http://www.vidaliala.com/bowie.htm.

RURAL LIFE HARVEST DAYS: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. both days, LSU Ru-ral Life Museum, I-10 at Essen Lane. Living history demon-strations by artisans will take visitors back to 19th century life on Louisiana farms and plantations. Watch spinning, weaving, open hearth cooking, candle making, plowing and corn grinding. Also, children’s games, and hands-on activities. Lunches will be sold. Admission charged. (225) 765-2437.

SUNSHINE FESTIVAL: Old Louisiana State Fairgrounds, Donald-sonville. This family-oriented event includes a large carnival midway with rides and games, food venues and music. (225) 473-4814

OCT. 1-2

FRENCH QUARTER OKTOBERFEST: Broussard’s Restaurant, French Quarter, New Orleans. Second annual two-day festival with traditional German cuisine, German-style beer and wine, live music, and a costume contest. Tickets available online in advance and at the door. http://www.broussards.com

OCT. 1-29

FANFARE: various locations, but primarily the Southeastern Louisiana University campus and Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts, downtown Hammond. This month-long festival will feature more than 50 events, including lectures, theatrical productions, literary readings, art exhibits, films, concerts, dance, and much more. http://www.columbiatheatre.org or (985) 543-4371

33rd ANNUAL ST. LUKE’S EPISCO-PAL ARTS AND CRAFTS FESTIVAL: 9 a.m.-5 p.m., St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 8833 Goodwood Blvd. The event features handmade works by more than 100 artists and craftspeople from several southern states; food and drinks for sale. (225) 926-5343

GREAT ACADIAN AWAKENING: Lake Charles Civic Center, Lake Charles. Celebration of the Cajun connection with other French speaking parts of Louisiana’s past. Music, dancing, art vendors, Cajun French lessons, and educational lectures all included in this year’s festival. (337) 288-2681.

MADISONVILLE WOODEN BOAT FESTIVAL: Madisonville. An anticipated 30,000 attendees are expected to view hundreds of boats on the banks of the Tchefuncte River. Other attractions include music, parades, music, food, arts and crafts. http://www.woodenboatfest.org/.

INTERNATIONAL HERITAGE CELEBRATION: noon-8:30 p.m., Baton Rouge River Center and River Road. Parade, entertainment, exhibits, food, and visitors from around the world gather in celebration of cultural diversity. Exhibits representing cultures of more than 40 countries, accompanied by flags and native dress. Free. http://www.brcwa.com.

OCT. 26-30

VAMPIRE FEST: various venues in New Orleans. Includes a screening of international vampire and Gothic films, plus live vampire shows, costume parties, and panel discussions. http://www.vampirefilmfestival.com.

FRENCH FOOD FESTIVAL: LaRose Regional Park, off La. 308, LaRose. The old-fashioned food festival will again offer Cajun cooking, carnival rides, folk-life demonstrations, music and dancing. More than 20 local specialty dishes will be for sale at decorated food booths. http://www.bayoucivicclub.org.

8TH ANNUAL LOUISIANA BOOK FESTIVAL: 9 a.m.-5 p.m., State Library of Louisiana, State Capitol, Louisiana State Museum and nearby locations along 4th Street mall, downtown. Daylong event in which authors will hold workshops to discuss their works and careers. Writing workshops for hopeful authors are available as well as food, entertainment and activities for children. Free.

LOUISIANA RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL: 9:45 a.m.-5 p.m. rain or shine, one mile north of Hammond High School on River Road, off U.S. 190, Hammond. Meet peasants, nobles, knights, barons, and of course the reigning queen at this festival, which runs for six consecutive weekends. Live joust tournaments, birds of prey demonstrations, sword play, royal parades, English village, magicians, rope walkers, fire eaters and more. (985) 429-9992 or http://www.larf.org.

A list of fairs and festivals will run weekly in The FUN section through November. If your festival is not listed here, email the information to fun@theadvocate.com, and it will be published in our weekly list.